Contract for delivery of walking and cycling facilities of Cork bypass signed
Pictured at the contract signing with the Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Frank O'Flynn is Michael Lynch A/Divisional Manager South Cork, Cork County Council and Beren De Hora, Director, Fehily Timoney & Co along with Elected Members and Staff of Cork County Council on Tuesday 7th November at County Hall. Photo by Sean Jefferies Photography
THE contract for the Active Travel phase of the N22 Macroom-Baile Mhúirne bypass project were signed this week, paving the way for what Cork County Council Chief Executive Valerie O’Sullivan has described as ‘the next natural step’ following the opening in full of the €280m road project by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
As locals and commuters breathed a sigh of relief over the removal of traffic from the busy route, the first significant step has been taken towards the commencement of a two and a half year project after Cork County Council announced the appointment of Fehily Timoney and Company as technical advisers to oversee the design of the project.
Funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the contract means the company will oversee the preliminary stages of the project from Phase Two Options Selection to Phase Four Statutory Process.
County Mayor, Cllr Frank O’Flynn described the envisaged scheme as a ‘significant opportunity to provide active facilities that will improve mobility and accessibility in and around Macroom, Baile Mhic Íre, Baile Mhúirne and the surrounding community’.
The initial phases of the project including option selection, design and environmental evaluation, public consultation and the statutory process are estimated to take two and a half years until construction can begin.
On completion, the proposed scheme will extend from the N22 Bypass western tie-in junction, approximately 2.2km west of Baile Bhuirne to Coolcower to the east, a distance of approximately 22km.
According to Cork County Council Chief Executive, Valerie O’Sullivan, the now completed bypass has removed a significant amount of traffic from the town of Macroom and the Gaeltacht Mhúscraí villages of Baile Mhic Íre and Baile Mhúirne.
“As can be seen from the earlier opening of the Macroom Bypass section, there has been an immediate reduction in air pollutants of over 50% providing a very strong start to the decarbonisation of the town, we are confident that similar benefits are to follow for Baile Mhic Íre and Baile Mhúirne,” she said.
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